National Republican., 1887-07-28
A DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST
Gone to His Long Home-A Celebrated
ArchmolOcist,

Gone to His Long Home-A Celebrated
Arch@oloSist.
DR.. Charles Rau, the curator of the de-
partment Of antiquities, United States Ma
tional Museum, who died in Philadelphia
on Monday evening, aged 81 years, was a
native Of Belgium. He came to this coun-
try thirty years ago. He lived in st. Louis q
short time and afterward was professor
Of languages In New York, but at all times
deyotiDg himself to the study of archeol-
ogy.
had been III from pulmonary disease aud
wasseyeral weeks In Providence Hospital.
He also suffered from stone In the bladder
ard went to Philadelphia for treatment.
At 1880 o'clock yesterday the colleagues
and friends Of Dir. Rau, In the National
Museum and Smithsonian Institution, were
called together In the room of Prof. Baird
Prof. Goode was made chairman of the
meeting and Prof. Mason secretary A
series of resolutions were read calling attcn-
ton to the personal characteristics of Dr.
RRu and his great moral worth; also to his
devotion to archaeological science, par
ticularly OF the American stone age, and
also TO his fidelity to his trust as curator OF
the department Of antiquities In the
National Museum. Addresses were made
by DR.. Dali, Prof. Mason, Mr., Thomas
Wilson, and Prof. Goode.
DR.. RGu was n man of excessive mDdesty
| and en- enemy Of all ostensation while he
was living, He left dying requests tlat no
autopsy should be performed ON him; that
| his body should not be exposed to public
| view, and that no exercises should take
| place at his funeral. In pursuance of the
latter wish a large number of his friends
assembled at the undertaking establishment
| Of Mr.. Speare at $50 O'Clock yesterday
evening and proceeded to Oak Hill Gene
tery, where the great scholar was quietly
laidiin his last resting place.
Dir, Rau was one of the first men In
| America to treat archaeology as science
and to eliminate from the study OF ancient
works all of those wild and superstition:
| notiors which forty years ago seemed to bS
| the order Of the day. He always stood In
| tie front rank OF American arch@oiogsts
and is better known in Europe than any
| other American scholar devoted to that
| subject. He was the author OF severa
| volumes upon this subject, and at the tine
| OF his death was engaged in the prepara
| tion Of an encyclopaedia work which woult
have been the standard on the subject
| This work is left is n somewhat unfinished
condition, but the notes and illustrations o
DR.. Rau will enable the Smithsonian Insti
tuition to complete 1t In the future as trib
ute to his memory.
DR.. Rau was well known to all who
visited the Smithsonian Institution for hi
decided peculiarties. He was bachelor
and absolutely ignored ladies' society, ex
cept In the case OF one family of this city
tbatof Mr.. Sehade, to whom he was very
| much devoted. He was very fond OF
children. The doctor was exceedingly
sensitive about his archaeological works
and was annoyed by the slightest Inac
curacy. II viii be long time before th,
Smithsonian Institution will fill the plac,
OF DR.. Rau by one who will devote himself
to his work with such untlring devotion
and toll as has the deceased during the las
thirteen years. He leaves no relatives II
this country, but has several nephews II
Belgium, who viii inherit his property.